The President's Plane Is Missing by Robert J Serling

Author:Robert J Serling [Serling, Robert J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jerry eBooks
Published: 2016-03-19T04:00:00+00:00

Typically, it was DeVarian who took the opposite tack— that of trying to break down the symmetrical logic of the clue mainly because it was almost too good to be true.

“Let’s not jump at conclusions,” he said cautiously, yet unable to keep the eagerness out of his voice. “There were sixteen persons on the plane. Eliminating the woman secretary, that leaves fifteen who might have worn elevateds. We can’t assume that shoe belonged to an impostor.”

“No, we can’t,” Damon countered, “but it’s a pretty good place to start. Maybe Colin here, could ferret out how tall all those crew members were. In that way we might find out if anyone outside the impostor might have been wearing built-up shoes. I’m sure it couldn’t have been Admiral Philips—he was about six two. Ditto Phil Sabath. I’ve known Phil for years. He was almost a six-footer— come to think of it, I’ve been swimming with him, and in his bare feet he was three or four inches taller than I. That leaves two security guards, the two stewards and the three Secret Service agents. I doubt if the guards or stewards would be wearing uplifts—they’d probably have GI shoes on their feet and I never heard of an elevated being standard GI equipment. The agents are another matter. I suppose a Secret Serviceman could have vanity like anyone else. We could find out the height requirements for agents—that might eliminate them.”

Jones arose with the important air of a fictitious detective about to unveil the name of the murderer. “I don’t think we have to check any of this out.”

“Why not?” asked Damon.

“Because I think I know who the impostor was.”

“Okay,” Damon said. “Let us in on it.”

“Think back. Gunther, you asked Pitch about the appearance of the man he thought was the President the night the plane took off. Think, now. Pitch said he not only looked like Haines but he walked like him. Doesn’t that ring any bells?”

Damon shook his head but DeVarian whistled.

“Senator Haines,” the bureau chief said quietly. “The President’s brother. He walks exactly like Haines. Those short, quick steps.”

“Wait a minute,” Pitcher said. “I’ve seen the senator. He’s got white hair. Haines had gray hair. The guy who boarded that plane had gray hair. Besides, the senator’s in Maine fishing. He went to Boston the night of the crash.”

“Yeh,” Damon said. “But nobody’s heard from him and nobody can find him. The hair would be easy to fix—just dye it gray. Pitch, can you find out from your airline buddies if Bert Haines actually flew to Boston?”

“Maybe, if he took an airline plane. I can check the passenger manifests. Let’s see—he’d fly Eastern, American or Northeast. I’ll do it first thing in the morning.”

“You’ll do it right now,” Damon ordered. “Boy, I think we’re on to something. Bert Haines is at least two inches shorter than the President. But put elevated shoes on him, dye his hair, give him that homburg Jeremy Haines always wears, add the similarity of their walk, and you’ve got the answer.

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